Departmental Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what total cost. [Official Report, 17 December 2008, Vol. 485, c. 7MC.]

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office operates three bonus schemes—special bonuses (to reward particularly meritorious contributions during the year), an end of year bonus for staff below the senior civil service (SCS) (to reward performance and delivery throughout the year), and a bonus scheme for SCS staff which is an integral part of the pay arrangements in operation in all Whitehall and Northern Ireland Departments. Figures are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Special bonuses 2007-08 (paid 2007-08)  End year bonuses 2007-08 (paid 2008-09) 
			 Number of staff 697 409 
			 Total (£) 188,350 609,875

Sentencing

Don Touhig: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions sought by the police were not proceeded with by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The decision not to proceed with a prosecution may be taken either by way of a pre-charge decision, or after a defendant has been charged and proceedings have commenced.
	The following table shows the number of defendants whose cases were referred to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Areas for a pre-charge decision in the 12 months ending 30 September 2008. The table includes an analysis of the decisions taken by the CPS, broken down into those in which the decision was to bring charges, and all other pre-charge decisions.
	The table also shows the number of defendants whose cases were completed during the same period, together with the number and the proportion that resulted in a conviction and in an unsuccessful outcome. Within those resulting in an unsuccessful outcome, the table shows separately the number and proportion in which the CPS decided, on consideration of the evidence and the public interest, that a prosecution should not proceed.
	
		
			  Table 1: Pre-charge decisions October 2007-September 2008 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Decisions to charge 307,924 56.7 
			 All other pre-charge decisions of which 234,677 43.3 
			 Finalised by decision (comprises: simple cautions, conditional cautions, reprimand, final warnings and those offence(s) taken into consideration in relation to other charges) 22,644 4.2 
			 Incomplete cases 5,651 1.0 
			 No prosecution—evidential 137,768 25.4 
			 No prosecution—public interest 11,566 2.1 
			 Finalised administratively 36,245 6.7 
			 Other 20,803 3.8% 
			 Total 542,601  
			  Notes: 1. Decisions to charge: where the CPS decided that a defendant should be charged. 2. Finalised by decision: where a caution; a conditional caution; a reprimand; or a final warning was given; or where the offence(s) was taken into consideration in relation to other charges. 3. Incomplete cases: those where further information or action is requested or deemed necessary. 4. No prosecution: where a decision was taken not to prosecute 5. Finalised administratively: cases not returned to CPS for a decision, including those where the defendant failed to answer to bail and a warrant remained outstanding. 6. Other: includes cases where the outcome of the charging process was not correctly recorded 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Prosecution outcomes October 2007-September 2008 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Convictions 905,230 86.1 
			 Total unsuccessful outcomes 145,817 13.9 
			  O f which:   
			 Not proceeded with 98,648 9.4 
			 Total 1,051,047

Rural Development Programme

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which projects have received Rural Development Programme for England funding since 1 January 2007, broken down by regional development agency.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The number of projects funded under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) since 1 January 2007 includes both new projects and programmes approved by regional development agencies, as well as projects that were the legacy of the previous England Rural Development Programme. Thus amounting to over 1,000 projects.
	Details of all projects receiving funding through rural development programmes will be published annually on the DEFRA website, and those projects funded from 1 January 2007 to 15 October 2007 (linked to the European Community's financial year) can be found at
	www.cap-payments.defra.gov.uk.

Satellites

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what use his Department makes of data obtained from earth observation satellites; and what payment is made for such data, where applicable.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA and its delivery bodies use high resolution satellite data for the verification of agricultural subsidy claims under the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS). The data used is supplied directly by the European Commission so there is no cost to the Department.
	DEFRA also uses satellite data as part of the UK Countryside Survey in order to produce a national Land Cover Map. The Land Cover Map is a partnership project between DEFRA, the Natural Environment Research Council and the devolved Administrations. Some of the satellite data for the Land Cover Map is provided free of charge by the European Commission. DEFRA and partners have agreed a budget of £110,000 for the purchase of additional data.
	Satellite derived data is also used on an ad-hoc basis in various research projects funded by DEFRA. DEFRA does not hold data centrally on the costs of the satellite data used within these research projects.

Corporation Tax: Small Businesses

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies paying the small companies rate of corporation tax which paid annual corporation tax payments in the range of  (a) £0 to £10,000,  (b) £10,001 to £20,000,  (c) £20,001 to £30,000,  (d) 30,001 to £40,000,  (e) £40,001 to £50,000 and  (f) £50,001 and above in each of the last four years;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of companies paying the small companies rate of corporation tax which are expected to pay annual corporation tax payments to the Treasury in the range of  (a) £0 to £10,000,  (b) £10,001 to £20,000,  (c) £20,001 to £30,000,  (d) 30,001 to £40,000,  (e) £40,001 to £50,000 and  (f) 50,001 and above in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Stephen Timms: Published National Statistics showing the total number of companies paying at the Small Companies' Rate are available for 1998-99 to 2005-06:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate tax/11-3-corporation-tax.pdf
	National statistics depicting the total number of taxpayers by size of liability are also available for 1998-99 to 2005-06:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate tax/table11-6.xls
	This table is not available for companies paying the small companies rate only. Updates of both tables for liabilities due in the financial year 2006-07 will be published on 31 October 2008.
	Corporation Tax receipts are forecast on an aggregate basis and published in the Budget and pre-Budget reports. It is not possible to provide a separate forecast for numbers and amounts at small companies rate.

Departmental Committees

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what external representatives sit on each of his Department's committees.

Angela Eagle: Membership of Treasury's Board and its committees is detailed in Treasury's Annual Report. The most recent annual report may be found at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/5121.htm
	Subsequent to the publication of the report, three new independent members have been appointed to the Treasury Board—Dame Deirdre Hutton CBE, Sir Callum McCarthy and Michael O'Higgins. Dame Deirdre, Sir Callum and Michael succeed Sir Peter Gershon CBE and Sir David Varney, who have stepped down after reaching the end of their terms; and Stella Manzie CBE, who is now Director General Finance and Corporate Services in the Scottish Executive. More information on the appointments may be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_87_08.htm. The non-executive members of Treasury's Board do not represent other organisations. Further details about Treasury committees—including advisory groups and other bodies—may be found on its website
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.

Gift Aid

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance HM Revenue and Customs have issued on the eligibility of small charities for gift aid.

Stephen Timms: HMRC has recently updated its customer guidance on Gift Aid, available via HMRC and DirectGov websites.
	HMRC has also launched the Gift Aid toolkit, containing clear, basic guidance, templates, an interactive claim form and other materials to help charities get started with and use Gift Aid. The toolkit will be promoted by HMRC and statutory charity regulators ensuring that as many small charities as possible find out about the toolkit and can obtain a copy.

Public Value Programme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the Public Value Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Budget 2008 announced that the Public Value Programme would look at all areas of major public spending to identify where there is scope to improve value for money. The Public Value Programme will inform the Government's framework for vfm in the next CSR period which will be set out at Budget 2009. The Government will provide an update on the progress of the Public Value Programme in due course.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 65W, on incapacity benefit: applications, how many new claims for incapacity benefit were made by those aged  (a) under 25,  (b) under 35,  (c) between 25 and 44 and  (d) between 45 and 65 years in each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 13 October 2008
	Over this period the number of people starting a claim for incapacity benefits has generally been falling. Since 2003 the number of people leaving has exceeded the number of people joining incapacity benefits resulting in an overall reduction in the number of people on incapacity benefits. This may be driven in part by Pathways to Work which has now helped more than 94,000 people into employment.
	The available information on incapacity benefits commencements is in the following table.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance commencements by age: Great Britain 
			   Under 25  Under 35  Between 25 and 44  Between 45 and 65 
			 1998 136,900 322,900 360,500 351,600 
			 1999 132,900 304,700 343,100 339,300 
			 2000 128,900 291,200 333,000 329,900 
			 2001 134,900 282,100 309,900 317,700 
			 2002 128,400 271,400 301,600 296,400 
			 2003 125,400 261,900 291,500 290,800 
			 2004 121,000 248,200 277,300 275,300 
			 2005 108,600 225,100 257,900 259,800 
			 2006 106,400 218,600 249,300 248,300 
			 2007 112,000 225,500 256,400 248,100 
			  Notes: 1. The best statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent. data sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provides some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources. Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Figures contain overlaps of commencements where a claimant is aged between 16 and 35. 4. The yearly figures are compiled from quarterly data starting from 1 December in the previous year. 5. Figures include those on IB credits only, who may also claim income support on grounds of sickness or disability.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample

Jobcentres

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what jobcentres he has visited since taking up his post.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 9 October 2008
	Since becoming Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend has visited Stalybridge, Redbridge, Glasgow City, Nottingham Station Street, Glossop and Kentish Town Jobcentres.

Crossrail: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been  (a) committed and  (b) provided for Crossrail from (i) BAA, (ii) Transport for London and (iii) London businesses.

Paul Clark: The funding for Crossrail was announced by the Prime Minister on 5 October 2007. Funding will be split roughly three ways; between the Government, Crossrail fare payers and London businesses. Details of the contributions expected to be made were included in a Heads of Terms agreement signed in November 2007 between Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL).
	The Heads of Terms agreement can be viewed on the DfT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/165234/302038/headsofterms.pdf
	Discussions between DfT and British Aviation Authority (BAA) about a funding contribution towards the cost of Crossrail are at an advanced stage and should be finalised shortly.
	Under the Heads of Terms agreement, TfL is responsible for underwriting £7.7 billion of the Crossrail project's £15.9 billion estimated capital cost. This includes a contribution from fare payers but also covers the business contributions in the form of the proposed business rate supplement, contributions from property development around stations, the use of the existing s.106 mechanism and possibly a mechanism to extract planning gains. TfL is also funding the costs of Cross London Rail Links Ltd. during 2008-09.
	The Heads of Terms agreement assumes considerable contributions from key beneficiaries of Crossrail. The City of London corporation has committed to make a significant contribution and to collect voluntary contributions from businesses across London. An in-principle agreement has been reached with Berkeley Homes for them to construct, at their own cost and risk, a station box at Woolwich. In addition, terms have been agreed with Canary Wharf Group for a significant contribution to the project, the details of which are under negotiation.

Government Departments: Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that all departments use British-built cars.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Each Department is responsible for setting its own criteria for the purchase and hire of the vehicles it uses.
	The purchase or hire by Government Departments of cars and other vehicles is subject to the Suppliers Directive (93/36/EC as last amended by Directive 97/52/EC). Together with the relevant Remedies Directive (89/665/EEC), the Suppliers Directive has been given effect in the UK by the Public Supply Contract Regulations (SI.1995/201, last amended by SI.2000/2009).

Powers of Entry

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many powers of entry have been  (a) introduced and  (b) abolished by his Department through legislation since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing (Mr. Coaker) on 22 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 451-52W.

Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of which of his Department's public service agreements rural proofing of departmental policies is stipulated.

Paul Clark: Under CSR07 Departments no-longer have Department specific PSAs, but contribute collaboratively to 30 cross-Government PSAs.
	The Department for Transport is lead Department for the delivery of PSA 5: Deliver Reliable and Efficient Transport Networks that Support Economic Growth.
	PSA 5 deals with urban and Inter-urban congestion, capacity and crowding on the rail network and the value achieved from departmental investment. PSA 5 does not specifically cover rural transport however it is a requirement for all new policies and programmes to be subject to an impact assessment which includes rural proofing.

Tolls

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for establishing road pricing pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Government's approach to tackling congestion and the role of charging was set out in the Command paper we published on 16 July and the accompanying written statement made by the then Secretary of State on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 32-33WS. I would also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) on 22 October 2008,  Official Report, column 431W.

Departmental Lost Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what  (a) equipment and  (b) data was reported lost by the House of Commons Service in the last 12 months.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to replies to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 13 October 2008,  Official Report, column 858W, and the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 19 February 2008,  Official Report, column 545W. Since then it has been reported that 10 chairs were stolen from Portcullis House.

Departmental Lost Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what  (a) equipment and  (b) data was lost by his Department in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: My Department has lost one mobile phone and one security pass in the last 12 months. No data has been lost in that period.

Departmental Recruitment

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many vacant posts in his Department were advertised in each of the last three years; and at what cost.

Paul Murphy: Wales Office will normally advertise vacant posts to all Ministry of Justice and Welsh Assembly Government staff, using electronic media at no identifiable special cost. We keep information on such internal advertisements for one year only. In the 12-month period September 2007 to 2008 we have placed 14 internal advertisements for vacant posts.
	In 2006 we advertised one vacant post externally at a cost of £17,240.92.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on whether 5000 MW is an appropriate threshold for renewable energy projects that will not be completed by 2020 in the context of the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.

Mike O'Brien: We are involved in continuing negotiations with EU member states, the Commission and European Parliament on the EU renewable energy directive and are working towards agreement by the end of the year.
	The Government are fully committed to meeting the proposed target of 15 per cent. of UK energy consumption being sourced from renewable sources by 2020. Earlier this year, we consulted on how this might be achieved and, in the light of the results of this consultation, we plan to publish a UK renewable energy strategy in spring 2009.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Government will take to maintain investor confidence in the EU's commitment to renewable energy if a major review of the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources takes place in or around 2014.

Mike O'Brien: We are involved in continuing negotiations with EU member states, the Commission and European Parliament on the EU renewable energy directive and are working towards agreement by the end of the year.
	The Government are fully committed to meeting the proposed target of 15 per cent. of UK energy consumption being sourced from renewable sources by 2020. Earlier this year, we consulted on how this might be achieved and, in the light of the results of this consultation, we plan to publish a UK renewable energy strategy in spring 2009.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on whether the 20 per cent. renewable energy target should continue in force following any review of the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources in or around 2014.

Mike O'Brien: We are involved in continuing negotiations with EU member states, the Commission and European Parliament on the EU renewable energy directive and are working towards agreement by the end of the year.
	The Government are fully committed to meeting the proposed target of 15 per cent. of UK energy consumption being sourced from renewable sources by 2020. Earlier this year, we consulted on how this might be achieved and, in the light of the results of this consultation, we plan to publish a UK renewable energy strategy in spring 2009.

Cars: Retail Trade

Frank Field: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what response he plans to make to the expiry of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation in 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 20 October 2008
	The current Motor Vehicle Block Exemption is due to expire in 2010. On the basis of detailed discussion with member states, the exemption will either be extended, renegotiated or removed by the European Commission. It is not in the gift of member states.
	Having consulted widely with all areas of the industry and other stakeholders the Government submitted a response to the Commission on 25 July 2008. The response stated that the UK supports the Commission view that this sector specific block exemption should not be renewed in 2010. This was, however, conditional on provision being made in either the vertical block exemption or other EU Regulations addressing concerns in a number of areas, particularly after-market access to technical information.

Departmental Civil Servants

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants were promoted in each year since 1998.

Kevan Jones: Prior to April 2005, data on the number of civil servants promoted in each year since 1998 was not held centrally. To provide the information would require asking Business Partners to trawl their records and this could be done only at disproportionate cost. The number of civil servants who were substantively promoted from April 2005 to date is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Total 
			 2005 855 
			 2006 489 
			 2007 499 
			 2008 492 
			  Note:  These figures do not include individuals who advance or progress within a pay band.

Departmental Retirement

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving armed services personnel have taken voluntary early retirement in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of trained UK Regular Forces service personnel who have taken early voluntary retirement is recorded in tables one to eight of TSP5 (UK Regular Forces Outflow From Trained Strength to Civil Life) as outflow type "Voluntary Outflow".
	TSP5 is published monthly, the current September 2008 publication includes time series back to 1998-99 and can be found at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&thiscontent=60&date=2008-10-14&pubType=1&PublishTime=09:30:00&from=home&tabOption=3
	Copies of TSP 5 are also available in the Library of the House.

Satellites

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use his Department makes of data obtained from earth observation satellites; and what payment is made for such data, where applicable.

Bob Ainsworth: MOD uses data from earth observation satellites principally to deepen its understanding of meteorological, geographical and hydrographical situations. This data provides important background and context for military commanders in the planning of exercises and operations. In addition, the Met Office uses data from earth observation satellites for weather prediction and climate monitoring purposes.
	We use data from a global network of meteorological and climate monitoring satellites and contribute financially to the European component of this network through our contribution to EUMETSAT (the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites). Subscription levels are on average approximately £33 million per year.
	Outside of EUMETSAT, departmental expenditure for the acquisition of data in 2007-08 was just over £434,000.

Dementia: Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people with  (a) Alzheimer's disease and  (b) other forms of dementia in Stroud constituency.

Phil Hope: The national Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) records the number of people recorded on practice disease registers with a diagnosis of dementia but this does not distinguish between Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The publication "Revisions to the GMS Contract 2006/07" states that Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50-75 per cent. of cases of dementia. This register count is available for the two latest releases of QOF, covering 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	We are unable to supply this information for parliamentary constituencies as the data is only available for general practices (GPs) and can be aggregated to primary care trust (PCT) level. We have supplied information for the smallest health area that covers Stroud, namely Gloucestershire PCT.
	These QOF figures are given in the following table. They are the totals for patients with dementia.
	
		
			  Q O F data—Number of patients on the dementia disease registers 
			   Financial year 
			   2007-08  2006-07 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 2,825 2,707 
			  Notes: 1. QOF is the national Quality and Outcomes Framework, introduced as part of the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract on 1 April 2004. 2. Participation by practices in the QOF is voluntary, though participation rates are very high, with most Personal Medical Services (PMS) practices also taking part. 3. The published QOF information was derived from the Quality Management Analysis System (QMAS), a national system developed by NHS Connecting for Health. 4. QMAS uses data from general practices to calculate individual practices' QOF achievement. QMAS is a national IT system developed by NHS Connecting for Health to support the QOF. 5. The system calculates practice achievement against national targets. It gives general practices, primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) objective evidence and feedback on the quality of care delivered to patients. 6. The Quality Management Analysis System captures the number of patients on the various disease registers for each practice. The number of patients on the clinical registers can be used to calculate measures of disease prevalence, expressing the number of patients on each register as a percentage of the number of patients on practices' lists. 7. Figures presented here are just the number of patients on the disease register for dementia.   Source: The data supplied in Table 1 is published on the website of the Information Centre for health and social care. (a) For 2007-08 see the Quality and Outcomes Framework 2007-08 publication data tables at the following link (published 30 September 2008): http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/supporting-information/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework/qof-2007/08/data-tables. The table for PCT level QOF for 2007-08 can be found at this link: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/QOF/2007-08/NewFilesGS/QOF0708_PCTs_Prevalence.xls This publication has been placed in the library. (b) For 2006-07 see Quality and Outcomes Framework 2006-07 publication data tables at the following link (published 28 September 2007): http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/supporting-information/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework/qof-2006/07/qof-2006-07-data-tables. The table for PCT level QOF for 2006-07 can be found at this link: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/QOF/2006-07/QOF0607_PCTs_ Prevalence.xls. This publication has been placed in the library.

Health Professions: Manpower

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals of each healthcare profession there have been in the Newly Qualified Healthcare Professionals Pool in each month since its creation; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The data requested are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of professionals probably available each month 
			   General Adult  Children's  Mental Health  Learning Disabilities  Midwife  Chiropody/  Podiatry  Dietetics  Occupational Therapy 
			 April 2007 216 40 57 6 20 10 5 51 
			 May 2007 556 91 135 13 60 19 20 81 
			 June 2007 757 116 190 19 77 21 26 115 
			 July 2007 1017 147 271 26 109 32 37 192 
			 August 2007 1136 152 304 31 136 42 50 200 
			 September 2007 1127 154 315 38 143 40 46 209 
			 October 2007 1203 150 339 41 155 49 47 225 
			 November 2007 1142 132 334 44 151 44 38 186 
			 December 2007 1059 118 319 37 135 40 33 167 
			 January 2008 1027 109 320 38 134 39 33 164 
			 February 2008 986 103 322 42 118 35 34 145 
			 March 2008 774 81 281 42 93 23 28 131 
			 April 2008 721 77 272 40 85 23 26 126 
			 May2008 647 70 251 34 68 16 23 115 
			 June 2008 619 79 236 37 65 15 20 111 
			 July 2008 572 74 236 26 61 20 21 118 
			 August 2008 528 70 220 27 51 23 27 112 
			 September 2008 529 67 229 30 43 26 34 122 
			 October 2008 452 52 222 32 41 24 32 120 
		
	
	
		
			   Orthoptics  Physiotherapy  Radiography Diagnostic  Radiography Therapeutic  Prosthetics and Orthotists  Speech and Language Therapy  Audiology 
			 April 2007 1 55 15 0 0 19 2 
			 May 2007 3 214 38 3 1 37 6 
			 June 2007 4 379 60 6 2 45 10 
			 July 2007 7 666 75 8 2 75 10 
			 August 2007 8 860 75 8 2 90 11 
			 September 2007 8 892 69 6 2 89 13 
			 October 2007 8 952 68 6 2 97 14 
			 November 2007 7 907 61 6 3 94 13 
			 December 2007 5 825 60 7 5 84 10 
			 January 2008 5 803 58 7 5 81 14 
			 February 2008 6 784 56 7 6 78 15 
			 March 2008 5 651 45 7 5 63 13 
			 April 2008 5 598 43 4 5 61 11 
			 May2008 3 502 34 4 5 45 13 
			 June 2008 4 544 32 6 5 38 15 
			 July 2008 6 737 35 6 5 49 16 
			 August 2008 6 828 35 5 5 55 15 
			 September 2008 4 872 41 5 5 58 13 
			 October 2008 3 793 39 2 5 64 14 
		
	
	
		
			  Professionals joining each month 
			   General Adult  Children's  Mental Health  Learning Disabilities  Midwife  Chiropody/  Podiatry  Dietetics  Occupational Therapy 
			 April 2007 216 40 57 6 20 10 5 51 
			 May 2007 340 52 78 7 40 9 15 30 
			 June 2007 226 31 61 7 21 6 8 38 
			 July 2007 286 39 85 7 36 12 14 84 
			 August 2007 215 25 65 9 32 11 13 29 
			 September 2007 197 31 63 8 26 2 1 23 
			 October 2007 186 13 53 4 21 10 2 28 
			 November 2007 143 9 43 6 15 1 4 11 
			 December 2007 80 7 25 2 8 2 2 8 
			 January 2008 109 7 28 5 10 1 2 15 
			 February 2008 107 7 30 7 8 0 4 10 
			 March 2008 99 14 34 8 10 1 0 14 
			 April 2008 92 11 34 6 8 4 0 12 
			 May 2008 76 8 32 5 8 3 1 14 
			 June 2008 80 13 24 5 8 1 4 16 
			 July 2008 75 14 38 1 6 8 5 24 
			 August 2008 70 13 36 6 2 7 7 19 
			 September 2008 113 9 47 7 4 4 10 32 
			 October 2008 10 5 31 8 9 2 3 20 
		
	
	
		
			   Orthoptics  Physiotherapy  Radiography Diagnostic  Radiography Therapeutic  Prosthetics and Orthotists  Speech and Language Therapy  Audiology 
			 April 2007 1 55 15 0 0 19 2 
			 May 2007 2 159 23 3 1 18 4 
			 June 2007 1 169 23 3 1 11 4 
			 July 2007 3 289 17 2 0 30 1 
			 August 2007 2 210 8 0 0 23 3 
			 September 2007 1 92 6 0 0 7 2 
			 October 2007 0 112 10 0 0 13 3 
			 November 2007 0 55 1 0 1 9 3 
			 December 2007 0 20 4 3 2 4 1 
			 January 2008 0 27 2 0 0 4 4 
			 February 2008 1 78 5 0 1 9 2 
			 March 2008 0 55 2 0 1 3 0 
			 April 2008 0 46 6 0 0 5 0 
			 May 2008 0 25 1 0 1 1 3 
			 June 2008 1 141 4 3 1 3 4 
			 July 2008 2 262 10 1 2 17 4 
			 August 2008 0 164 7 1 1 13 2 
			 September 2008 0 126 9 1 1 10 2 
			 October 2008 0 65 6 0 0 12 4

Maternity Services

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to respond to the National Audit Office report, Caring for Vulnerable Babies, of 19 December 2008, HC 101; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The issues raised in the National Audit Office report of December 2007 were the subject of a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report, Caring for vulnerable babies: the reorganisation of neonatal services in England, published in June 2008. A copy of the Government's Treasury Minute response (Cm 7453) to the PAC report, published on 16 October 2008, is available in the Library.
	The Government are committed to the provision of safe, high quality neonatal services. While improvements have been made over recent years, we recognise there is still more to do. In the 2008-09 national health service operating framework we identified neonatal services as a priority and asked primary care trusts to ensure that sufficient numbers of neonatal teams are in place to meet local needs. In addition, the Department has established a Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, to support the NHS to identify and deliver further improvements to neonatal services. As part of its work programme, the Taskforce is working to develop quality standards for a comprehensive neonatal workforce and will develop targeted action plans to assist local decision making regarding staff shortages, incorporating skill mix, staffing levels, retention, recruitment and commissioning of education and training.

Midwives: Redundancy

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS midwives in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust have received redundancy notices in the last two years.

Ann Keen: Data is held at trust level. Hemel Hempstead General hospital is part of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. There were no compulsory redundancies for midwives at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust in 2006-07 or 2007-08.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Screening

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of 16 to 25-year-olds who have been screened for sexually transmitted infections in  (a) Southampton,  (b) Test Valley borough and  (c) non-metropolitan county of Hampshire in the last period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Data is not collected in the format requested. Data for sexual health screens in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics are only currently collected by strategic health authority (SHA).
	The number of sexual health screens, for all ages, in GUM in the South Central SHA, which covers Southampton, Test Valley borough and the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire, by gender for 2007 are given in the following table.
	
		
			   2007 
			 Male 35,312 
			 Female 40,222 
			 Total 75,534 
			  Notes: 1. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are for sexual health screens conducted in GUM clinics only. Sexual health screens conducted in other clinical settings, such as general practice, are not recorded in the KC60 dataset. 2. The data available from the KC60 statutory returns are the number of sexual health screens performed, not the number of patients screened. 3. Data are by area of GUM clinic and not patients' area of residence. 4. The information provided has been adjusted for missing clinic data.  Source: Health Protection Agency, KC60 returns. 
		
	
	In addition, the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) provides screening to asymptomatic people aged under 25 years in England and was launched in April 2003.
	Data for the number of Chlamydia screens among those aged 16-24 years resident in Southampton City primary care trust (PCT) and Hampshire PCT as part of the NCSP during the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 are given in the following table:
	
		
			   2007  2008  
			   April to June  July to September  October to December  January to March  Annual figure 
			 Southampton City PCT 487 462 679 812 2,440 
			 Hampshire PCT 1,993 2,596 3,337 3,803 11,729 
			  Notes: 1. The data from the NCSP Core Dataset are for Chlamydia screens made outside of GUM clinics only. 2. The data available from the NCSP are the number of screens made and not the number of patients screened.  Source: The NCSP Core Dataset.

Smoking: Expenditure

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effect on expenditure by his Department of the ban on smoking in public places and in the workplace; and what estimate he has made of the likely effect on such expenditure over each of the next five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Smokefree legislation was implemented in England on 1 July 2007. Since then, compliance rates have been high with over 98 per cent. of premises over the past year found to be compliant. The Department published the "Smokefree England - One Year On" report in July 2008 that overviews compliance, attitudes and the emerging health benefits from the legislation. This report is available in the Library.
	The estimated costs and benefits of smokefree legislation are set out in the final regulatory impact assessment for smokefree regulations that is also available in the Library. It is still too early to make specific estimates on the actual longer-term impact of smokefree legislation on the Department's overall expenditure.
	Independent academic research shows that smokefree legislation has dramatically improved the quality of air in pubs and bars. Findings from academic research in Scotland suggests that smokefree legislation can reduce the number of hospital admissions for heart attack, although research is still ongoing to identify similar benefits in England. Research published by Cancer Research UK in July 2008 suggested that smokefree legislation in England has helped at least 400,000 smokers to quit and will help prevent an estimated 40,000 deaths over the next 10 years.
	The Department will undertake a comprehensive review of smokefree legislation in 2010.

Tuberculosis

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of  (a) tuberculosis and  (b) drug-resistant tuberculosis there were in England in each year since 2001, broken down by primary care trust.

Dawn Primarolo: The information has been placed in the Library. Validated data at primary care trust level for 2006 onwards, is not yet complete.

Driving Offences: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested and  (b) convicted for driving without a licence or insurance in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Available information for proceedings and findings of guilt in magistrates courts for the offence of driving without a licence and using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks within Hertfordshire for the period 2002 to 2006 is provided in the following tables. Data is available at police force level only.
	
		
			  Table A: Proceedings and findings of guilt at magistrates courts for the offence of driving without a licence( 1) , within Hertfordshire, 2002-06 
			  Number of offences 
			  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total  findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt 
			 5,039 2,594 5,225 3,211 4,967 3,406 5,057 3,625 4,347 3,272 
			 (1) An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 87 (1) and (2) as amended.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is Important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken Into account when those data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Proceedings and findings of guilt at magistrates courts for the 'offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks'( 1)  within Hertfordshire police force area, 2002-06 
			  Number of offences 
			  2002  2003( 2)  2004  2005  2006 
			  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt 
			 6,612 4,191 7,216 5,078 7,463 5,382 7,763 5,716 7,641 5,849 
			 (1) An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.143(2). (2) As from 1 June 2003, 'driving a motor vehicle while uninsured against third party risks' became a fixed penalty offence.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council houses there are in each local authority area; and what estimate she has of the cost to Government of transferring those homes to registered social landlords.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 June 2008, Official Report, column 982W.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each local authority has received in  (a) capital receipts from right to buy sales,  (b) management and maintenance allowance and  (c) minor repairs allowance in each year since 1990; and what estimate she has made of such local government receipts in the next 30 years, using the assumptions adopted in her Department's self-financing of council housing services modelling exercise.

Iain Wright: Tables have been placed in the Library of the House giving the figures for  (b) and  (c) above from 1997-98, the first year for which this data is available.
	It is not possible for the Department to extract in tabular form the particular data requested at  (a), other than at disproportionate cost. However, it is possible to find information on capital receipts from Right To Buy sales for each local, authority in each year since 1998 from the following webpage:-
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-648.xls.
	The Department does not hold the equivalent information for individual years prior to 1998.
	To make projections for figures for management and maintenance allowance, and major repairs allowance for the next 30 years we would need to make assumptions on stock numbers over the period. In the self financing exercise these projections were produced by local authorities themselves and it would be burdensome to ask each local authority for these figures. Similarly those involved in the self financing exercise provided their own projections of receipts and it would be burdensome to ask all authorities for similar information.

Departmental Assets

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department' Information Asset Register.

Sadiq Khan: Departmental Information Asset Registers are available on the Inforoute website maintained by OPSI at:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/iar/index.htm
	The CLG page is under construction and will be added shortly with revised and updated content.

Departmental Contracts

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many invitations to tender her Department has issued in the last 12 months; and for what projects.

Sadiq Khan: Communities' has introduced an electronic tendering system that retains an audit trail of Invitations to Tender (ITT). In the last 12 months 111 tenders have gone through this system.
	It should be noted that the systems has not yet rolled out fully throughout the Department and as the records of other ITTs are not held centrally the total of all ITTs issued could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable she has set for the publication of the latest version of the national business case for the FiReControl project.

Sadiq Khan: The 2008 FiReControl Business Case Part 2: The National Case will be published later this year and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Homes and Communities Agency

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what budget has been established for the Homes and Communities Agency in the first full year of its operation.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave earlier today, (PQs 230326 and 230807).

Housing: Low Incomes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average length of time taken was for a household to be provided with suitable housing after joining the socially provided housing waiting list in  (a) Southampton and  (b) Test Valley borough in each of the last two years; and how many households were on the socially provided housing waiting list in (i) Southampton and (ii) Test Valley borough in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: Information for average length of time on a housing waiting list is not collected centrally.
	Information about social housing waiting lists is collected in respect of households rather than families. Where local authorities and registered social landlords operate a common register, households registered with the RSL will be included in the data. However, registered social landlords are independent bodies and can keep their own waiting lists.
	A table showing the number of households on local authorities' waiting lists for all local authorities in England from 1998 to 2007 is placed in the Library of the House. It is also published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 600 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/144458.xls
	The number of households on local authorities' waiting lists for (i) Southampton and (ii) Test Valley from 1998 to 2007 is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of households on local aut horities' housing waiting: 1998 to  2007 
			   Number of households on the waiting list (excludes households looking for transfers) 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Southampton UA 3,900 3,700 4,520 5,150 5,810 6,700 8,130 9,230 11,130 10,120 
			 Test Valley 1,770 1,720 1,610 1,440 1,650 2,190 2,090 2,700 2,890 3,930 
			  Note:  As reported by Local Authorities, Excludes households looking for transfers. Rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  Communities and Local Government Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix return (HSSA) 
		
	
	Local authorities in England report the number of households on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns.
	The size of the waiting list is not an indicator of absolute need; it is only useful as a broad indicator of housing demand in an area. Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get onto the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move house.

Housing: Overcrowding

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the pilot projects to tackle housing over-crowding.

Iain Wright: In 2007-08 the Government funded five London local authorities to develop pilot schemes to tackle overcrowding. The early lessons learnt from the London pilots were published on the Communities and Local Government website in "Tackling Overcrowding in England: Lessons from the London pilot schemes and sub-regional coordination in June 2008"
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/tacklingovercrowdingengland.
	In December 2007 the Government announced an additional £15 million funding over the current CSR period to tackle overcrowding in 38 local authority pathfinder areas across England, starting this year. The evaluation of the London pilots is informing the development of the overcrowding pathfinders' strategies and action plans.

Housing: Planning Permission

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the planning process is for the sale of educational use land for residential use; and how much educational use land in  (a) England and  (b) Leicester East constituency has been sold for development for residential use in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) 10 years.

Iain Wright: The Department does not collect the data requested centrally. The Land Use Change Statistics (LUCS) provides information on actual changes from one land use to another. However, statistics on where land changes from community buildings includes schools and colleges but also hospitals, police stations and prisons, while data on land changing from outdoor recreation includes school playing fields as well as football pitches, golf courses and allotments.
	For planning purposes land should be identified and allocated in local development frameworks, which is the overall planning strategy for the area. In some cases speculative applications, outside of the local development framework, may come forward—in which case they should be determined having regard to the overall direction in the framework.

Housing: Research

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisation is providing her Department with research into levels of housing need; and what the terms of reference of such research are.

Iain Wright: The Department has recently let a research contract on "Estimating Housing Need" to Heriot-Watt University. The research team is being led by Professor Glen Bramley.
	Communities and Local Government officials produced a detailed specification of what will be required from the research. Broadly the aims of the research are to:
	enable the Department to produce better estimates of "Housing Need" taking into account the normative nature and multi-dimensionality of need, and the need for housing related support; and
	to do this through the production of a robust model which enables estimates of housing need to be provided and which can be easily adapted to examine different scenarios and assess the impact of varying assumptions.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria are used by the Public Works Loan Board to decide whether to lend to a local authority.

John Healey: To decide whether to lend to a local authority, the Public Works Loan Board asks the following two questions to the applicant nominated by the local authority's chief financial officer: Is your local authority complying with the appropriate requirements of the PWLB's current circulars? and; Is this application within the relevant legislation of your council's borrowing powers? The answer to both questions must be 'yes'.

Local Government: Equal Pay

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the implications of the July 2008 Court of Appeal ruling on equal pay in local government.

John Healey: Local authorities, in their capacity as employers, are considering the potential implications of the recent court of appeal judgment in "Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council  v. Bainbridge and Ors".
	Communities and Local Government continues to monitor developments in this case with the local government employers.

Regional Planning and Development: West Midlands

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library the report on the draft West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy commissioned from Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners by the Government Office for the West Midlands; what recommendations the report made in respect of building on green belt land; and what the cost to the public purse of the report was.

Sadiq Khan: The Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners study is evidence to demonstrate where additional housing growth could be accommodated. The study has concluded that it is possible to deliver higher levels of housing than the levels proposed in the submitted Regional Spatial Strategy. The study sets out three scenarios which demonstrate where additional housing growth could be accommodated in the region. Scenarios are not site specific rather they assess the potential for additional growth to be accommodated within local authority areas.
	The study has suggested that additional housing growth in Solihull and Bromsgrove would require green belt amendments. In Birmingham, Rugby and Warwick there may be a need for green belt amendments this will ultimately depend upon the precise location and level of growth. The housing growth scenarios are not definitive proposals; merely an independent assessment of where additional housing could be accommodated. No decision has been made on the merits of the different scenarios and the Government have still to take a view on the study which they will do in their formal response to the Phase 2 revision.
	Discussions are still ongoing following the completion of the study and therefore costs have yet to be finalised.
	A copy of the report will be deposited in the Library of the House.

Rented Housing

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of tenants of private landlords where the landlord has a buy-to-let mortgage on the property occupied by the tenant.

Iain Wright: In January this year, Ministers commissioned Julie Rugg and David Rhodes of the centre for housing policy at the university of York to carry out an independent review of the private rented sector. The review team presented their findings on 23 October. Their report states that most recent records (drawn from the Council of Mortgage Lenders) indicate that, at the end of 2007, there were 1,024,300 outstanding buy-to-let mortgages. In the same year, mortgage advances for buy-to-let totalled 17 per cent. of total number of advances, including to home owners. In 2006 (the last year for which the relevant data is available), when the number of outstanding buy-to-let mortgages was 849,900, this constituted an estimated 28 per cent. of the total private rented stock. We do not hold data on whether all the properties covered by these mortgages are occupied by tenants.

Youth Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what recent steps the Government has taken to encourage local authorities to improve community facilities for children and young people;
	(2)  what recent work the Government has undertaken with youth groups and community groups to improve local facilities.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to investing in facilities for children and young people. "Aiming high for young people: a ten year strategy for positive activities", which was published in July 2007, announced the launch of a programme of capital investment based on new Government investment and the reinvestment of unclaimed assets from dormant bank accounts. Our ambition is that this will lead to new and improved youth facilities in every constituency over the next 10 years. To kick start this process, we have launched "myplace" to deliver £190 million of Government investment over the next three years, "myplace" will deliver world class youth facilities in cross-sector partnership, driven by the active participation of young people and their views and needs.
	The Children's Plan, published in November 2007, announced new investment of £225 million for play over the CSR period 2008-11, and in April we committed a further £10 million to this agenda. This will fund up to 3,500 public play areas and 30 staffed adventure playgrounds nationally, with a priority on provision for eight to 13-year-olds. 30 pathfinder authorities will receive on average £2.1 million of capital and £500,000 of revenue each; and every other authority will receive on average £1 million capital and a small revenue grant.
	Our aim is that these programmes drive a transformation in the way facilities for children and young people are planned and delivered—particularly with regard to the role and influence of young people and the level of genuine cross-sector partnership working.

Departmental Mass Media

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which organisations provided media monitoring services to  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three years; and what the total cost of each contract was;
	(2)  which organisations provided media monitoring services to  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three years; and what the total cost was of each contract over that period.

Michael Wills: Details of organisations providing media monitoring services are outlined in the following table.
	Media monitoring services include clippings of newspaper articles on subjects relevant to the Department that are compiled on a daily basis and summaries of broadcast news programmes throughout the day. In common with other Government departments of a similar size, the Ministry of Justice monitors a wide range of media to ensure Government policy is reported accurately and inaccuracies are rebutted.
	
		
			  MoJ 
			   Durrants  MMU  Total 
			 2005-06 59,606.61 36,000.00 95,606.61 
			 2006-07 20,548.55 34,900.00 55,448.55 
			 2007-08 56,662.93 46,722.70 103,385.63 
		
	
	 HMCS
	()(1)Nil return
	(1) Department does not hold own contract with Durrants or MMU, served by MoJ contract.
	
		
			  OPG 
			   Durrants  Total 
			 2005-06 0.00 0.00 
			 2006-07 0.00 0.00 
			 2007-08 7,118.74 7,118.74 
		
	
	 Tribunals
	()(1) Nil return
	(1) Department does not hold own contract with Durrants or MMU, served by MoJ contract.
	
		
			  National Archives 
			   Adfero Newsmanager (media management/ monitoring)  Adfero Newsmanager (clippings)  Cision (media management)  Cision (clippings and media monitoring)  Meltwater News  Total 
			 2005-06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2006-07 0.00 0.00 23,446.00 220.00 0.00 23,666.00 
			 2007-08 0.00 0.00 11,660.00 13,169.00 5,288.00 24,829.00 
		
	
	 Boundary Commission - England
	Nil return
	 Boundary Commission - Wales Office
	Nil return
	
		
			  Land Registry 
			   Durrants  Total 
			 2005-06 19,537.24 19,537.24 
			 2006-07 28,751.35 28,751.35 
			 2007-08 28,035.64 28,035.64 
		
	
	
		
			  Legal Services Commission 
			   Adfero Limited  Durrants  Total 
			 2005-06 5,853.87 24,038.20 29,892.07 
			 2006-07 0.00 24,170.03 24,170.03 
			 2007-08 0.00 27,159.00 27,159.00 
		
	
	 Judicial Appointments Commission
	()(2)Nil return
	(2) Department does not hold own contract with Durrants, served by Judicial Communications Office contract
	
		
			  Judicial Communications Office 
			   Durrants  MMU  Total 
			 2005-06 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 2006-07 25,754.07 9,023.85 34,777.92 
			 2007-08 41,091.57 19,457.30 60,548.87

Employment Agencies

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which recruitment agencies  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have used in the last three years; and how much was paid to each of these recruitment agencies in each year.

Michael Wills: The civil service recruitment website, which was launched in December 2002, is the site of first choice for central Government recruitment. This site is extensively used by the MOJ. There is no cost associated with this facility.
	The MOJ utilises the central framework of recruitment agency services owned by the Cabinet Office. This framework provides access to the most effective recruitment agencies and provides value for money through a single government wide contract. Below the SCS level the Ministry does not hold this information centrally. Therefore, it is not possible to collate this without incurring disproportionate costs.
	Recruitment agency services for search and selection are used to fill some externally advertised SCS posts.
	The Ministry's costs for these services have been recorded for since its creation on 9 May 2007 in the following table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007 623,649.46 
			 2008 670,471.57 
			  Note: 2008 data relates to all campaigns invoiced to data

Land Registry: Documents

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he next expects to meet Land Registry officials to discuss its proposed destruction of original documents.

Michael Wills: I regularly meet officials from the land Registry to discuss a range of issues. The next scheduled meeting with the land Registry is on 24 November, and this issue may be discussed.

Secure Accommodation: Restraint Techniques

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he will publish the Government's response to the review of restraint techniques in secure accommodation for children.

David Hanson: In a written ministerial statement on Wednesday 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 33WS, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families (Beverley Hughes) and I announced our intention of publishing the report prepared by Peter Smallridge and Andrew Williamson on the use of restraint in juvenile secure settings, together with the Government's response, by 15 December.

Security Industry Act 2001: Prosecutions

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions were brought for offences committed contrary to the Security Industry Act 2001 in each region in each year since the Act came into force; and how many of these prosecutions were successful in each year.

Maria Eagle: Data showing the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, in England and Wales, broken down by region from 2004 to 2006 is in the following table. Data for 2007 will be available at the end of November 2008.
	The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, in England and Wales, broken down by region, 2004( 1)  to 2006( 2,3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			  Region  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East — 8 2 — 2 1 
			 North West 1 7 5 1 4 5 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside — 18 10 — 3 6 
			 East Midlands — 17 15 — 4 10 
			 West Midlands — 31 12 — 11 7 
			 East of England — 6 3 — 3 2 
			 London 2 — 19 1 — 12 
			 South East 7 8 10 7 5 5 
			 South West — 7 9 — 3 3 
			 Wales 1 66 71 1 31 42 
			
			 England and Wales 11 168 156 10 66 93 
			 (1) Licensing under the Private Security Industry Act commenced, on a phased basis, in 2004; as a result there is no data from 2001 to 2003. (2) This data is on the principal offence basis. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2008,  Official Report, column 577W, on GCSEs, how the £4,000 figure was calculated; and how many hours of work were required to compile the information requested.

Jim Knight: As both of these questions relate to A*-C achievement in GCSE modern languages in each year since 1997 we linked these two PQs.
	If the information requested could be produced, it would come from the Achievement and Attainment Tables data. That data is essentially hierarchical—each pupil can sit many exams, each school has many pupils and each local authority has many schools. To deal with that, DCSF manage the data as a series of pre-specified, separate and distinct data files: exam, pupil, school, local authority and national.
	That allows the Department to quickly and easily answer questions and produce analyses at a range of different levels and on a range of different measures and indicators. However, those measures and indicators must be pre-specified and the data files are produced under contract for, and delivered to, the Department. A lot of work is put into ensuring the fullest range of relevant measures and indicators are pre-specified and available and updated.
	However, it becomes more difficult and expensive to produce analyses where a measure or indicator has not been pre-specified. Essentially, that requires going much further back into the data file production process—agreeing classifications, developing and agreeing production rules and processes, aggregating data (for e.g. from examination level to pupil level), matching data across levels (for e.g. to identify whether a, pupil is in a comprehensive school), extensive quality assurance to check the results and then actual production of the tables and analysis required.
	The key point is that, at school and pupil level (for the range of yearn requested), there are not pre-specified variables relating to Modern Foreign Languages—which would be required to answer these two questions.
	The initial estimate of £4,000 was based on the assumption that DCSF would need to ask contractors to create additional variables, aggregations and matches across levels—with associated development and quality assurance.
	In some cases, we have the option of carrying out the work ourselves, without involving our contractor in going back to a very early stage in the production process. We have reconsidered on that basis and estimate that would cost £2,200. An explanation of this cost is given as follows:
	The main tasks are as outlined earlier—developing and agreeing classifications, production rules and processes, aggregating data across levels, matching data across levels, quality assurance and final production. This is a complex data production and manipulation process.
	As PQ 224479 asked for 11 years worth of information, at approximately half a day's work per year, plus a day extra for checking, this would result in a cost of around £1,300. (circa 45 hours).
	PQ 224500 does not require an aggregation up to school level so producing the information is slightly simpler but the process would still require implementing the production rules, creating a suitable variable, aggregating up to pupil level and matching to the pupil lie. Again, substantial quality assurance checks would be needed.
	This process would need to be repeated for each year and would take longer than the disproportionate threshold of at least three and a half days of HEO-equivalent grade's work and at least another day for a different HEO (or higher) to verify it. This amounts to £900. (circa 32 hours).

Grammar Schools: Admissions

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the changes in grammar school admission numbers consequent upon the Building Schools for the Future programme 
	(1)  in the Kent local authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Ashford,  (b) Canterbury,  (c) Dartford,  (d) Dover,  (e) Faversham and mid Kent,  (f) Folkestone and Hythe,  (g) Gravesham,  (h) Maidstone and the Weald,  (i) Sittingbourne and Sheppey,  (j) South Thanet,  (k) Tonbridge and Malling and  (l) Tunbridge Wells;
	(2)  in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Stoke on Trent South,  (b) The Wrekin and  (c) Wolverhampton South West;
	(3)  in the Wirral Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Wirral South and  (b) Wirral West;
	(4)  in Warwickshire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Rugby and Kenilworth and  (b) Stratford upon Avon;
	(5)  in the Trafford Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Altrincham and Sale West,  (b) Stretford and Urmston and  (c) Wythenshawe and Sale East;
	(6)  in Torbay Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Torbay and  (b) Totnes;
	(7)  in the Sutton Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Carshalton and Wallington,  (b) Epsom and Ewell and  (c) Sutton and Cheam;
	(8)  in the Redbridge Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Chingford and Woodford Green and  (b) Ilford North;
	(9)  in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Bournemouth East,  (b) East Devon,  (c) Plymouth, Sutton,  (d) Mid Dorset and North Poole,  (e) Reading East and  (f) Salisbury;
	(10)  in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Halifax,  (b) Penrith and the Border,  (c) Dewsbury,  (d) Liverpool, Wavertree and  (e) Skipton and Ripon;
	(11)  in the Medway Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Chatham and Aylesford,  (b) Gillingham and  (c) Medway;
	(12)  in the Lincolnshire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Boston and Skegness,  (b) Gainsborough,  (c) Grantham and Stamford,  (d) Louth and Horncastle,  (e) Sleaford and North Hykeham and  (f) South Holland and The Deepings;
	(13)  in the Lancashire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Lancaster and Wyre,  (b) Ribble Valley and  (c) Rossendale and Darwen;
	(14)  in the Kingston upon Thames Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Kingston and Surbiton and  (b) Richmond Park;
	(15)  in the Gloucestershire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Cheltenham,  (b) Gloucester and  (c) Stroud;
	(16)  in the Essex Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Colchester and  (b) West Chelmsford;
	(17)  in the Buckinghamshire Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Aylesbury,  (b) Beaconsfield,  (c) Buckingham,  (d) Chesham and Amersham and  (e) Wycombe;
	(18)  in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Edmonton,  (b) Orpington and  (c) Slough;
	(19)  in the Birmingham Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Edgbaston,  (b) Ladywood,  (c) Selly Oak and  (d) Sutton Coldfield;
	(20)  in the Barnet Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Chipping Barnet and  (b) Finchley and Golders Green;
	(21)  in the Walsall Local Authority in the next three years in the constituencies of  (a) Aldridge-Brownhills and  (b) Walsall South.

Jim Knight: Each local authority assesses its pupil capacity just before entering the Building Schools for the Future programme, and puts forward proposals in its Strategy for Change (SfC) submission. The following table provides the figures where available for each of the constituencies requested.
	
		
			  Authority  Constituency  BSF Status 
			 Barnet Chipping Barnet Not yet entered BSF(1) 
			  Finchley and Golders Green (1)— 
			
			 Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham's grammar schools are not part of its current BSF waves and will be addressed in later phases of the programme(2).() 
			  Ladywood (2)— 
			  Selly Oak (2)— 
			  Sutton Coldfield (2)— 
			
			 Bournemouth Bournemouth East Bournemouth's grammar schools are not part of the Wave 6 project and will be addressed in later waves of the programme 
			
			 Bromley Orpington Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Buckinghamshire Aylesbury Not yet entered BSF(3) 
			  Beaconsfield (3)— 
			  Buckingham (3)— 
			  Chesham and Amersham (3)— 
			  Wycombe (3)— 
			
			 Calderdale Halifax Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Cumbria Penrith and the Border Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Devon East Devon Not yet entered BSF(4) 
			  Plymouth, Sutton (4)— 
			
			 Dorset Mid Dorset and North Poole Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Enfield Edmonton Enfield is in Wave 6a of BSF, but has not formally started its project so no information is available 
			
			 Essex Colchester Essex's Wave 4 BSF programme is centered on Basildon and Canvey Island, where there are no grammar schools; these will be addressed in later waves(5) 
			  West Chelmsford (5)— 
			
			
			 Gloucestershire Cheltenham Not yet entered BSF(6) 
			  Gloucester (6)— 
			  Stroud (6)— 
			
			 Kent South Thanet Chatham House Grammar School for Boys is proposed to reduce from 749 to 642 and Clarendon House Grammar school from 790 to 681; the schools are proposed to collocate as part of Kent's Wave 4 project. Dane Court Grammar School will reduce from 1,170 to 1,111 as part of Kent's Wave 3 programme., 
			  Sittingbourne and Sheppey Borden Grammar School is in Kent's Wave 6 programme which has not started yet 
			  Gravesham Gravesend Grammar School is proposed to reduce from 1,013 to 956 (11-18) as part of Kent's Wave 4 project. Gravesend Grammar School for Girls is proposed to reduce from 981 to 927 (11-18) as part of Kent's Wave 4 project. 
			  Faversham and mid-Kent Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is in Kent's Wave 6 programme which has not started yet. 
			  Ashford The other areas of Kent have not yet entered BSF(7).() 
			  Canterbury (7)— 
			  Dartford (7)— 
			  Dover (7)— 
			  Folkestone and Hythe (7)— 
			  Maidstone and the Weald (7)— 
			  Tonbridge and Malling (7)— 
			  Tunbridge Wells (7)— 
			
			 Kingston upon Thames Kingston and Surbiton Not yet entered BSF(8) 
			  Richmond Park (8)— 
			
			 Kirklees Dewsbury Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Lancashire Lancaster and Wyre There are no grammar schools in Lancashire's wave 1 project. They will be addressed in later wave of the programme(9). 
			  Ribble Valley (9)— 
			  Rossendale and Darwen (9)— 
			
			 Lincolnshire Boston and Skegness Not yet entered BSF(10) 
			  Gainsborough (10)— 
			  Grantham and Stamford (10)— 
			  Louth and Horncastle (10)— 
			  Sleaford and North Hykeham (10)— 
			  South Holland and the Deepings (10)— 
			
			 Liverpool Liverpool Wavertree Liverpool has just submitted its SfCl for Wave 6 and is proposing to retain the current capacity of 996 (11-18) at The Blue Coat School 
			
			 Medway Chatham and Aylesford Not yet entered BSF(11) 
			  Gillingham (11)— 
			  Medway (11)— 
			
			 North Yorkshire Skipton and Ripon Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Reading Reading East Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Redbridge Chingford and Woodford Green Not yet entered BSF(12) 
			  Ilford North (12)— 
			
			 Slough Slough Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Stoke on-Trent Stoke on Trent South Stoke is revising its BSF plans following its Children's Services being place in intervention; it has not submitted its SfC1 to the Department yet so no information is available 
			
			 Sutton Carshalton and Wallington Not yet entered BSF(13) 
			  Epsom and Ewell (13)— 
			  Sutton and Cheam (13)— 
			
			 Torbay Torbay Not yet entered BSF(14) 
			  Totnes (14)— 
			
			 Trafford Altrincham and Sale West Not yet entered BSF(15) 
			  Stretford and Urmston (15)— 
			  Wythenshawe and Sale East (15)— 
			
			 Walsall Aldridge-Brownhills Walsall is in Wave 6a of BSF, but has not formally started its project so no information is yet available(16) 
			  Walsall South (16)— 
			
			 Warwickshire Rugby and Kenilworth Not yet entered BSF(17) 
			  Stratford upon Avon (17)— 
			
			 Wiltshire Salisbury Not yet entered BSF 
			
			 Wirral Wirral South Not yet entered BSF(18) 
			  Wirral West (18)— 
			
			 Wolverhampton Wolverhampton South West Wolverhampton Girls' High is proposed to expand from 747 to 830 places 11-18 in Wolverhampton's Wave 4 project.

National Curriculum Tests

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what  (a) evidence and  (b) references were sought regarding the suitability of ETS as a provider of marking services for key stage 2 and 3 tests; and what account was taken of the experience of the California State Education Board in this matter;
	(2)  what information or references were submitted by ETS in tendering for the contract to provide marking services for key stage 2 and 3 tests in relation to its performance in similar projects in the US; and what steps he took to  (a) verify and  (b) test such information or references.

Jim Knight: Delivery of National Curriculum Tests is the responsibility of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The QCA Board took decisions on the procurement and award of contracts and the right hon. member may wish to approach the QCA directly for this information.

Pupils: Intimidation

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on bullying behaviour on school buses; what steps he is taking to monitor trends in levels of such behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Responses to the Staying Safe consultation, which closed on 31 October 2007, included concerns about safety on bus journeys to and from school. In the Staying Safe Action Plan (February 2008), the Government committed to launching new guidance and training on tackling bullying which takes place outside of schools. Following a competitive tendering process, we have appointed the charity 4Children to develop guidance and training tools and materials on tackling bullying outside of schools. These will be published early in 2009. The guidance and materials will specifically include advice to help practitioners tackle bullying during journeys to and from school and on public transport.
	Ofsted's Tellus 3 survey, published in October 2008, includes for the first time a question on the frequency of bullying both inside and outside school, including journeys to and from school. Although the survey does not include a measure specifically relating to buses, it does include a question on how safe children feel on public transport and journeys to and from school. Responses to these questions provide a valuable source of information on the scale of bullying outside school.
	My Department promotes local good practice to monitor and tackle bullying, such as having school prefects act as bullying monitors on school buses. It also encourages local initiatives to tackle bad behaviour on buses, such as the Purbeck Bus Forum which operates in the hon. Member's constituency. To improve monitoring at a local level, my Department is also proposing to introduce a statutory requirement for all schools to record, although not report, incidents of verbal or physical abuse which are linked to bullying. We intend to consult key stakeholders on this over the coming months and will legislate at the earliest possible opportunity in 2009. We will continue also to recommend that schools supply this recorded data to their local authority, so that trends across the authority can be identified and area-wide initiatives evaluated.

Developing Countries: Education

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what requirements his Department makes regarding user fees when funding national primary education plans in developing countries.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) expect the countries to which we provide direct support to have plans in place to remove tuition fees. To be successful, and to protect standards, the removal of fees needs to be part of a comprehensive, long-term plan for universal primary enrolment. Support from DFID, in the form of long-term predictable funding, is helping governments, achieve this aim but other donors also need to provide long-term flexible funding to ensure the removal of primary tuition fees.
	Many of the countries that DFID prioritises for support have already removed tuition fees or are working towards their removal. The high cost of education is the biggest deterrent to poor families educating their children, particularly for girls. In addition to tuition fees, other direct costs include uniforms and textbooks, teachers' and Parent Teacher Association fees, transportation as well as 'hidden' costs such as lost household and/or paid labour. Such costs have a significant impact on whether and which children are educated.

Dorneywood

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W, on Dorneywood: official hospitality, what use his Department has made of Dorneywood for official engagements in the last 12 months.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office on 20 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 90-91W.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the World Food Programme and other international agencies delivering humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe on ensuring that currency paid into the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is  (a) not siphoned off in any currency transactions and  (b) used for the purpose for which it was donated.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) works closely with international agencies to ensure they achieve the best value for money when delivering humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe and minimise the risks of pilfering and interference. The World Food Programme (WFP), its partner organisations and other international agencies operate bank accounts outside Zimbabwe and liquidate negligible amounts through local commercial banks. Most procurement of commodities and services is done externally through offshore accounts.
	The United Nation's Office of the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) maintains a robust system of monitoring for humanitarian funds and the implementation of agreed programmes. The UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator (HC) holds weekly monitoring meetings in order to track the delivery of assistance and use of humanitarian funds.

Members: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Leader of the House how many hon. Members will have received payments from the Parliamentary Pension Scheme this year by the end of the year.

Chris Bryant: There are currently 847 pensioners in receipt of a pension from the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund. Data on the likely number of pensioners during the remainder of 2008 is not available.